The Newest Member of the Team Has Four Paws

Most new employees spend their first day learning the processes, meeting team members, and navigating new computer programs. Calysta’s first day looked a little different.

The 2-year-old facility dog recently joined Oklahoma Children’s OU Health, part of the University of Oklahoma’s academic health system, after specialized training for one very important job: helping children recover, cope, and heal.

Whether she’s encouraging a child to take those first difficult steps after surgery, quietly comforting a family during a stressful moment, or giving a frightened child something else to focus on during a medical procedure, Calysta is much more than a friendly face with a wagging tail.

She’s the newest member of Oklahoma Children’s Paws for Purpose program, where specially trained facility dogs work alongside therapists and Child Life Specialists to help children achieve medical, rehabilitation, and emotional goals during their hospital stay.

Since 2017, Oklahoma Children’s has been integrating specially trained facility dogs into patient care, pairing each dog with a clinical staff member. The program began with one dog. Today, five facility dogs serve patients at Oklahoma Children’s and OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center, with Calysta becoming the newest addition to the team.

Training a Facility Dog

Before Calysta ever stepped inside the hospital, she had already completed intense preparation.

Unlike volunteer therapy dogs, facility dogs are bred and trained from birth for hospital work. At Canine Assistants in Atlanta, puppies spend 18 months to two years learning to remain calm around medical equipment, unfamiliar sounds, wheelchairs, hospital beds, and busy clinical environments. During training they even spend time inside children’s hospitals before being carefully matched with the healthcare professional they’ll work alongside for the rest of their career. Once the match is made, the handler travels to Atlanta to learn everything about their new partner before bringing them home.

“People see the dog and think, ‘Oh, it’s so cute,’” said Monica Lantz, B.S., Child Life Specialist and facility dog supervisor for Oklahoma Children’s Paws for Purpose program. “But there’s so much that happens behind the scenes.”

Choosing to add another facility dog isn’t simply about finding room for one more golden lab. It requires funding, extensive planning, and selecting the right hospital employee to become the dog’s full-time handler both at work and at home. The dog’s personality, training, and clinical role all must fit together.

The decision to bring Calysta to Oklahoma Children’s came from the fact that patients needed her.

Requests for facility dog consults continue to grow across the hospital, particularly on the ninth floor, where many children are recovering from surgery.

Helping Kids Heal, One Paw at a Time

No two days look the same for Calysta. Some mornings begin with helping children prepare for surgery. A few quiet moments hugging a dog can help ease anxiety and give children something positive to focus on before heading into the operating room.

After surgery, her work shifts to helping patients focus on recovery.

Calysta spends much of her day on Oklahoma Children’s ninth floor. There she works alongside therapists, Child Life Specialists, and other care team members to help children reach rehabilitation and mobility goals. Those first few steps after surgery are often the hardest, and the most important. A walk down the hallway becomes a little less intimidating with a furry friend leading the way.

Calysta helps celebrate milestones that may seem small to others but are huge victories for the children taking those steps.

When she’s not helping patients before and after surgery, Calysta can often be found in The Zone, Oklahoma Children’s interactive activity space designed to give patients and families a break from the clinical side of the hospital. Filled with games, technology, creative activities, and opportunities to simply be kids, The Zone offers a place where children can laugh, play, and spend time with other patients during their hospital stay.

Whether she’s greeting children as they arrive, joining a game, or quietly sitting beside someone who’s had a difficult day, Calysta helps make the hospital feel a little more welcoming.

More Than a Pretty Face

While Calysta’s work may look easy, she’s part of a much larger team dedicated to caring for children beyond their medical diagnoses.

Oklahoma Children’s is home to the largest Child Life, Integrative and Creative Care program in Oklahoma. Certified Child Life Specialists are experts in child development who help children and families navigate hospitalization by explaining procedures in age-appropriate ways, teaching coping strategies, providing therapeutic play, and supporting emotional well-being throughout a hospital stay.

The program also includes expressive therapies such as music, art, and yoga; school and STEM services; gaming and technology; volunteer services; family resources; and the Paws for Purpose program. Together, these services support all aspects of a child’s and family’s hospital experience.

That’s what makes the Paws for Purpose program unique.

Facility dogs aren’t simply there to brighten someone’s day — although they certainly do that. Every interaction has a purpose. Working alongside Child Life Specialists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals, facility dogs support children’s clinical, emotional, and rehabilitation goals throughout their hospital stay.

“The humans already have a role in the hospital,” Lantz explained. “We bring a dog alongside them to help patients reach their goals a little bit easier.”

One of the biggest misconceptions is that the dogs are simply relaxing when they lie quietly beside a patient.

“They’re focused on their job,” Lantz said. “They may look calm or sleepy, but they’re taking on the emotions of everyone in that room.”

That’s why protecting their well-being is just as important as protecting patients. The dogs receive scheduled breaks throughout the day, and time to play. Strict infection prevention practices also keep their work in the hospital safe. When the vest comes off, they’re just dogs again — running at the dog park, playing with toys, and enjoying life outside the hospital.

Paws for Purpose Program at Oklahoma Children’s 

As Calysta settles into her new role, she joins a team that’s already making a difference for patients and families every day. And while she spends her first weeks learning new hallways and meeting new faces, her purpose is already clear.

At Oklahoma Children’s, healing is measured not only by surgeries completed or medications given, but also by the courage to take one more step after surgery, the confidence to face a difficult procedure, and the comfort of knowing that, even on the hardest days, a friendly face — and four steady paws — are waiting nearby.

Find out more about Child Life, Integrative and Creative Care Programs or contact a member of our team on (572) 244-7023.